24 killed in twin suicide blasts in NE Nigeria

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - At least 24 Muslim worshippers have been killed and several others injured after two suicide bombers detonated explosive vests during afternoon prayers in Nigeria's northeastern Adamawa state, according to police.

“At about 1 p.m.[1300GMT] today, a teenage suicide bomber entered a mosque in Yan Gwajo area of Mubi town and detonated his vest while people were praying. Yet another bomber detonated another bomb as people scampered for safety. At the moment, 24 people have been confirmed dead,” police spokesman Othman Abubakar told Anadolu Agency by phone.

“Several others were injured and have been evacuated to the hospital. Operatives from the anti-bomb squad have been deployed in the area. We have also cordoned off the scene,” he added.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the blasts but they came a few days after Boko Haram attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri, the focal point of the nine-year insurgency that has killed over 20,000 in the country's northeast and displaced millions across the Lake Chad region.